FACULTY OF TOURISM AND HOTEL MANAGEMENT

TERM PAPER

SICILY

Banjaluka, 2020
CONTENT
PREFACE.................................................................................................................................................. 1
1. GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION..............................................................................................................2
2. THE NATURAL GEOGRAPHICAL BASIS OF TOURISM............................................................... 3
2.1. RELIEF.......................................................................................................................................... 3
2.2. CLIMATE.......................................................................................................................................3
2.3. HYDROGRAPHY......................................................................................................................... 4
2.4. FLORA AND FAUNA................................................................................................................... 5
3. CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL SITES............................................................................................. 5
3.1. AGRIGENTO.................................................................................................................................5
3.2. TRAPANI.......................................................................................................................................6
3.3. PALERMO..................................................................................................................................... 7
3.4. MESSINA...................................................................................................................................... 8
3.5. CATANIA.......................................................................................................................................8
3.6. SYRACUSE.................................................................................................................................10
3.7. RAGUSA......................................................................................................................................11
CONCLUSION........................................................................................................................................12
LITERATURE......................................................................................................................................... 13
 PREFACE
This term paper is based on analysis and researching tourism potential of Sicily. There are
many natural heritage, protected area national park, breathtaking landscapes and cultural
heritage which are at the UNESCO's World Heritage List.
Sicily has nine provinces and each of them is full of natural, cultural and archaeological
attractions. Sicily is the biggest Italian island in the Mediterranean sea, and also is the
autonomy region of Italy. Capital city of Sicily is Palermo, and there live most of
population. Great history, cultural and historical attractions, natural attractions and of
course six months of summer season definitely are the factors which made Sicily
attractive tourist destination.
Favorable geographical position and attractive natural geographical baisi are a significant
factor for the development of tourism in this area. In this chapter we will say what is the
tourist and geographical position of Sicily and its connection with other regions, the
natural geographical basis through the relief, climate, water on land and sea and flora and
fauna.

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 1. GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION
Sicily is the southernmost island in Italy and the largest in the Mediterranean. On the
north side of Sicily is the Tyrrenian Sea, on the east side the Strait of Messina which
separetes it from mainland of Italy, on the east side it is surrounded by the Ionian Sea
while it is separated from Africa by the Sicilian Sea. Sicily is an autonomous region in
Italy. It is divided into 9 provinces: Agrigento, Caltanissetta, Catania, Enna, Messina,
Palermo, Ragusa, Syracuse and Trapani. The area of Sicily is 25,710 km 2, compared to
the area of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sicily is twice smaller, but more than five million
people live in Sicily. Most of residents live in Palermo, which is also the center of the
region.
Sicily boasts a convenient location because of the proximity of the emitting markets
(Central and Western Europe). As for the traffic position itself, Sicily is connected to the
mainland by numerous ferry lines, From every major port in Italy there is a ferry line to
Sicily. On the island itself, the largest seaports are Messina – the largest natural port in
Sicily with a turnover of 10 million passengers, and ports in Palermo, Messina, Catania.
In addition to passenger and commercial traffic, cruisers are also of great importance.
Due to the large number of tourist arrivals in Sicily, there are also two international
airports, Fontanarosa Airport in Catania and Punta Raisa in Palermo. In addition there are
several smaller airports – Birgi in Trapani, Comiso, Boccadifalco in Palemro and
Lampedusa and Panteleria.
Road traffic has been developed with as many as several highways connecting larger
cities on the island. Therefore, although the railway connects almost all regions on the
island, the infrastructure is quite outdated and does not meet the modern needs of island.
In early 2000s, the idea of a bridge over the Strait of Messina that would directly connect
Sicily with mainland Italy was also active. The idea was eventually abandoned due to
inadequate infrastructure and the cost of the project.

Picture 1: Panoramic view of Sicily

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 2. THE NATURAL GEOGRAPHICAL BASIS OF TOURISM
Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Due to the position of the Eurasian
and African plate tectonics, this area, together with the surrounding islands, is the subject
to strong volcanic activities. The most important volcanoes are Etna, Stromboli and
Vulacno. In the 19th century, due to volcanic activity in the Strait of Sicily, a new island
of Ferdinand appeared, which is today located a few meters below sea level. In front of
the northern coast of Sicily lie the Aeolian Islands, named after the largest island of
Lipari in this group of islands. Other islands are Salina, Vulcano, Stromboli, Panarea,
Filicudi and Alicudi, and in the northwest the island of Ustica. Around the western tip of
Sicily are located and the Egadi islands: Favignana, Maret and Levanzo, while between
the southern coast and the coast of Tunisia are islands of Pantelleria and Pelagie Islands:
Lampedusa, Lampione and Linosa.

2.1. RELIEF
More then half of Sicily is a hilly area, while the rest is made up of mountains, and s
smaller part of the lowlands. The lowlands cover 14.1% of Sicily. The largest lowland is
the Catanian lowland with an area of 430 km 2, which is located in the eastern part of the
island. The mountainous area occupies 24.4% of the area of Sicily, and most of the
mountainous area extends to the northern part of the coast. This area consists of the
mountains of Madonie, with the highest peak Pizzo Carbonara (1975m), Nebrodi with the
highest peak Monte Soro (1847m) and the mountain area Peloritani with the highest peak
Monte Grande (1374m). In the western area, south of the city of Palermo is the
mountainous area of Monti Sicani with the highest peak of Monti Cammarata (1578m).
In the central part of the island of Sicily is the mountainous area of Monti Erei where the
town of Enna is located. In the southwestern part of the island is the mountainous area of
the Monti Iblei with the highest peak Monti Lauro (985m). Southeast Sicily is marked by
the Hyblean Plateu. Apart from the largest Catanian lowland, other lowland areas are
located in the province of Trapani, where the arable red land contributes to the creation of
the famous Sicilian wine.

2.2. CLIMATE
Sicily is dominated by a Mediterranean climate with warm and dry summer and mild and
rainy winter. In recent years, changes caused by global warming have been observed,
resulting in unstable weather. The recent climate has some tropical features such as short
showers, or an increase in average temperature, especially during spring and autumn,
Also, the time of the last few years varies, so it is very difficult to determine the average
based on the time measurements and records. The Mediterranean climate has contributed
to the summer season lasting 6 months. The average temperature during the summer
ranges between 20˚C to 30˚C, but temperature can rise up to 40˚C, the cause of such a
high temperature is the wind blowing from North Africa. Although the temperature rises
during that wind, the heat drops and the temperature may seem lower than it really is. In
1999, a European record was set in Sicily when a temperature of 48.5˚C was recorded.
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2.3. HYDROGRAPHY
Sicily is surrounded by three seas: the Mediterranean Sea, the Ionian Sea and the
Tyrrhenian Sea. Beneficial Mediterranean climate and warm sea contribute to the
development of the summer season which lasts 6 months. The lowest sea temperature is
15°C in January, and the highest temperature reaches as high as 27°C in August. Apart
from the favorable climate and warm sea, Sicily is also known for its sandy beaches.
The most famous beaches are Mondello Lido, Lido di Mortelle, Lido Mazzar and
Giardini – Naxos. There are several rivers in Sicily, the longest being the Salso River
which flows into the Mediterranean Sea, while the Simeto River is significant because it
has the largest basin. Another river that is important to mention is the river Bèlice, where
there is a hydroelectric power plant that supplies electricity to the capital Palermo. Sicily
has only one more natural lake, Pergus, but even that lake is endangered due to
exploitation for human needs. Dams where built for the needs of the people, thus creating
artificial lakes in Sicily. The most famous artificial lake and at the same time the largest
on the whole island is Lake Pozzillo.

Picture 2: Lake Pozzill, Enna

2.4. FLORA AND FAUNA

The flora of Sicily can be described as a characteristic evergreen Mediterranean
vegetation. Sicily is characterized by more that 3000 species of plants. Of the cultivated
plant species, the ash stands out, growing on the northern shores. Olives and vines, as
well almonds, pistachios, pomegranates and chestnuts have been growing here since
ancient times. By the way, all the listed plant species were imported from the Middle East
in ancient times. In addition to those listed in Sicily, you can also find carob, banana,
ficus, palm, mulberry, lemon, bitter orange and other citrus fruits. In the past, Sicily was
covered with the forests that were cut down to obtain wood for ships and fertile land.

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Holm oak and cork oak forests can still be found mostly at altitudes between 300m and
600m.
Numerous wild animals have disappeared due to deforestation, but still in the mountains
you can find a few wolves, foxes, wild cats, rabbits, dormouse and reptiles. In spring and
autumn, Sicily is resting place for many migratory birds. Unlike the few species of
terrestrial animals, the marine fauna of Sicily is very rich, especially with fish and
shellfish, and sea turtles can also be found on the cost of the Pelagian Islands. Turtles are
special because they bury their eggs in the sand at the mouth of the Belica river on the
banks of the Pelagia.

3. CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL SITES

Sicily is a region on the border of Europe and Africa which, due to its favorable position
in the center of the Mediterranean, has changed various rulers throughout history. In a
relatively small geographical area we have the archaeological remains of Carthage,
ancient Rome and Greece, the medieval and baroque remains of Arabs, Normans,
Germans, Catalans, French and Italians. This diversity of cultures that mingled in Sicily
led to the island’s abundance of cultural and historical attractions.

3.1. AGRIGENTO
Agrigento is a province of Sicily with 457,503 inhabitants located on the south coast of
the island. The province Agrigento consists of 43 municipalities, including the
municipalities of Lampedusa and Linosa which are in the Pelagic Island group. In
addition to the sandy beaches, the province has a rich of cultural heritage. In the town of
the same name there is the so-called The Valley of the Temples, which has been under
UNESCO protection since 1997.
The valley of the Temples consists of walls and seven temples. The largest and most
famous was the Temple of Olympian Zeus. Every year in February, Agrigento hosts a
festival called “Sagra del Mandorlo in fiore” (Almond Blossom Festival). It is an
international festival attended by folklorists from many countries and presents them with
their indigenous dance. Before the performances, torches of peace are lit in front of the
Concordia Temple, which the participants carry through the traditional city procession.
The festival lasts for several days and during that time a large number of domestic and
foreign tourists come to Agrigento.

3.2. TRAPANI
Trapani is a province located in the west of Sicily. The area of the region is 2460 km 2,
and it borders Palermo to the northeast and Agrigento to the southeast. It is surrounded by
the Tyrrhenian Sea in the north and the Mediterranean Sea in the south. The capital of the
region is the eponymous city of Trapani, and the largest city is Marsala. The coast of
Trapani consists of many beaches and cliffs, especially Castamere Bay. The town of
Scopello is known for its clear sea as well as San Vito Lo Capo with its white beaches.

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Many parts of the environment are protected, the Zingaro Nature Reserve which streches
along the coast and reefs and the Trapani and Paceco Saline Nauture Reserve which
protects the salt pans with windmills.

Picture 3: The Piazza della Republica, main square in Marsala

The historic center of Trapani consists of buildings, monuments and churches such as the
Catedral Of San Lorenzo with its Baroque facade and the Basilica Santuario di Maria
Santissima Annunziata. The prepoli regional Museum houses the cultural heritage of
Trapani from antiquity to the present day. The province is particularly rich in remains of
ancient civilizations. Erice is a medieval town with a huge history with walls from the
time of ancient Carthage. The city also has a catedral with a Gothic portal. In Segesta, an
ancient Greek settlement, there is a Doric temple and theater. Selinunte is located near the
nature reserve of the river Belica, and contains the ruins of the ancient Greek acropolis,
temples and remains of walls. While on the small island of Mothia are the remains of the
Phoenician civilization.
Marsala is also an important city, it has existed since Phoenician times, and in recent
times it is known as the city where Garibaldi sailed. It also houses two important
museums, the Baglio Anselmi Archaeological Museum, which houses Roman-Phoenician
remains, as well as the Arazzo Museum with a collection of Flanders tapestries and
Pantelleria near Africa.

3.3. PALERMO
The province of Palermo is located in the north of the island, bordered on the north by the
Tyrrhenian Sea, on the west by the province of Trapani, on the south by the province of
Caltanissetta, and on the east by the province of Enna and Messina. The largest city in the
province of Palermo has 1 276 525 inhabitants. It covers an area of 5 009 km 2, with an
average population of 255 inhabitants per km2.

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Sferracavallo, an ancient fishing village, is today a famous destination for scuba diving.
Nearby is the now extinct volcanic island of Ustica known for its caves and
archaeological remains. The terrain of the province is predominantly hilly and
mountainous, with the Pollina and Imera valleys extending towards the coast. Nature is
protected in the Madonie Regional Park. In addition to beautiful nature, the province
offers a number of historical sites – the ruins of Thessaloniki, the area of Monte Jato,
Montreal and Palermo itself, founded by the ancient Phoenicians, which in the Middle
Ages played an interesting role as a city of European ans Arab civilizations. Some of the
sights in Palermo are the Vucciria Market, the Park della Favourita, Villa Giulia, the
Garibaldi Gradens, the Kalsa district, the Palazzo dei Normanni, the Palazzo
Chiaromonte, the Teatro Massimo and many churches: the church of San Giovanni degli
Eremiti, the Catedral of San Domenico, the Church of Santa Marira dell Ammirglio, the
Church of Santa Caterina and many more. At the site of Monte Jato are the ruins of the
Temple of Aphrodite, the Grand Theater and the House of the Peristilium. Cefalù is a
visited resort known for the Duomo (church) and the Mandralisca Museum. Palermo is
also known for its many festivals, the most famous beging Santa Rosalie, the patron saint
of the city, a seven-day party that includes parades, fireworks and music.

3.4. MESSINA
Messina is the province located in the northeastern part of the island. It is bordered on the
south by the provinces of Catania and Enna, on the west by Palermo, on the north by the
Tyrrhenian Sea, and on the east by the Ionian Sea and the Strait of Messina which
separates Sicily from mainland Italy. It covers an area of 3 274 km 2 and according to data
from 2014 has 647 477 inhabitants. The capital and largest city is the eponymous city
Messina. Today, Messina is the third largest city in Sicily. The city was founded by the
Greeks of Chalcis in 757 BC. Like the whole of Sicily, many states and kingdoms
alternated as rulers of the city. It is known for its port as well as the Duomo. The church
is adorned with a statue of St. John the Baptist, the work of Antonello Gargini, as well as
the Sacramental Chapel, the work of Jacopo del Duca, a disciple od Michelangelo. Also
is important the church of Santissima Annunziata, built between 1150-1200. on the basis
of an old pagan temple dedicated to the God Neptune. The Messina Regional Museum
contains works by Caravaggio and Antonella da Messina in its painting gallery. Behind
the church of Saint Caterina is the Odeon, a small ancient theater used for cultural events.
The Tyrrhenian coast along the Lipari is marked by the famous beach resort, Golfo di
Patti. Located on a george on the Ionian Sea is the prestigious resort town of Taormina, a
vacation spot for many celebrities. It is known for one of the largest ancient theaters from
the Greco – Roman period.

3.5. CATANIA
The province of Catania is located on the east coast of the Ionian Sea. North of Catania is
Mount Etna. The capital of the province is the eponymous city of Catania. The cities of
Catania, Caltagrione and Militello in Val di Catania are Baroque cities that belong to Val
di Noto and are on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Catania was buried by the eruption
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of Mount Etna in 1669, and an earthquake in 1693 destroyed the entire city. The city was
later rebuilt in the Baroque style, and Catania is still called the "Dark Daughter of Etna"
because of the dark volcanic stone used in the construction. The symbol of Catania is the
Elephant Fountain in the central square which is also made of black volcanic stone. In
2002, Catania was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as an example of "the
peak of the final Baroque flourishing in Europe". There are several palaces in the city: the
Biscari Palace, the Elephants Palace, the Valle Palace, the Rebuedone Palace, the Tuscan
Palace and the neo-baroque courtroom.
Caltagrione is located 70 km southwest of Catania. The Baroque city center was inscribed
on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2002. Diverse cultures can also be seen in
Caltagrione. The settlement was founded by the Siculi (group of Italics), they built a
necropolis around 2000 BC, which is still preserved today and is full of archaeological
remains. After Sikuli, the Arabs turned Caltagrione into a city and named it Qal'at-al-
ghiran ("Mount of Vases"). The Arabs built a castle in the city that was conquered by the
Ligurians in 1030. The local dialect is made up of many Ligurian words. The city
flourished during the Norman period (during the reign of the Hohenstaufen dynasty) and
became a famous place of pottery production. In 1693 an earthquake almost destroyed the
entire city, and after this catastrophe the city was rebuilt in the Baroque plan. The city has
a local Pottery Museum which houses a valuable collection of pottery from the time of
Magna Graecia, but also modern pottery. Certainly the main attraction of the city is the
staircase of the Church of Our Lady of the Hills from 1608, which rises above the city
with its 142 steps. Each staircase is hand-decorated with painted ceramic tiles with a
different motif. On St. James's Day (July 25), which is the patron saint of the city, the
entire staircase is lit by colored candles that shape the artistic image.

Picture 4: The Biscari Palace, Catamia

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Other buildings worth mentioning are Cathedral of St. Juliana, which dates back to
Norman times and was given an Art New facade in the 20th century, the Church of Our
Lady of the Hills from the 12th century, which has been restored in the Baroque style.
The Baroque church of San Francesco di Paola has an old Gothic sacristy and the Senate
Palace dating from the 15th century. Militello Val di Catania, like the city of Catania, was
destroyed by an earthquake in 1693 and was rebuilt in the Baroque reconstruction. In
2002, it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is also notable for its 14th
century architecture. The city has several palaces, churches and the castle of Barresi
Branciforte.

3.6. SYRACUSE
Syracuse is a province in the southeast of the island, the capital and largest city is
Syracuse of the same name. Ortygia is an island connected to Syracuse by several short
bridges. It is famous for the castle of Maniace, from Hohenstaufen period, the fountain of
Aretus as well as many churches, temples, walls and facades as well as the Duomo on the
central piazza. The Doric Temple of Athens forms the core of Christian church built in the
Byzantine era, rebuilt in the Baroque style in the 18th century. In Palazza Belomo, the
former convent of San Benedetto, today there is a regional gallery that contains, among
other things, works by Caravaggio.

Picture 5: Noto Cathedral, Syracuse

The Temple of Apollo stands near the port, converted fisrt into a church, then into a
mosque under the Arabs and again into a church under the Normans. On the mainland in
Syracuse there is the Archaeological Park of Naples with the ancient Greek theater, which
is still in use today. The park also features the Latomia del Paradiso with numerous stone
caves, the altar of Hiera II and a Roman amphitheater. The Paolo Orsi Archaeological

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Museum contains exhibits of 9000m2. Noto and Palazzolo Acreide are part of the famous
Noto Valley, under UNESCO protection as part of world cultural protection.
One of the sights in this city is the Porta Reale or the Royal Gate which was built in 1838
in honor of King Ferninad II. This door provides a unique experience of entering the
main street of the city of Noto. Opposite the street are the monasteries of Santa Chiara
and Santissimo Salvatore. In the oval interior of Santa Chiara is a 16th century sculpture
of the Virgin and Child of the artist Antonello Gagini. The Palazzo Ducezio is located in
the square. This palace was designed by the architect Sinatro, in 1742. The porch of the
palace with pillars extends the entire length of the facade.
In Nota there is also the church of San Carlo al Corso which was built in 1730. The
special feature of this church is its concave facade which is decorated with a row of
elegant, thickened pillars and an octagonal dome with a view of the city. Nearby is the
church of Chiesa di Montevergini, whose specialty are the balconies supported by figures
of horses and grotesque figures. Of the other sacral buildings, it is important to mention
the Cathedral of San Nicolo, which is located at the top of the Labisi Stairs. The special
feature of this building is its facade bordered by two rectangular towers decorated with
Corinthian pilasters.
Some of the other attractions are the Church of San Domenico which is Gagliardi’s
masterpiece marked by an ornate, concave façade full of niches and pillars that create a
dramatic play of light and shadow. Also worth mentioning is Via Cavour, which is
notable for its many aristocratic palaces. Some notable palaces are Palazzo Battagalia,
Palazzo Trigona and Palazzo Castelluccio.

3.7. RAGUSA
Ragusa is located in the southern part of Sicily near the province Syracuse. The capital of
province is Ragusa. Ragusa, Scicli and Modica are three UNESCO protected
municipalities as World Heritage Sites. Ragusa can be described as two cities in one. The
old town had to be rebuilt after an earthquake in 1697 while the new part was built later
during the 18th century.
The town is dominated by the church of the Duomo di San Giorgio, a masterpiece of
Baroque architecture by master Rosario Gagliardi. The church of Santa Maria delle Scale
has also been rebuilt in Baroque style, but is based on the arch of an older church from
14th century. In the new part of Ragusa there is a cathedral dedicated to St. John the
Baptist with a bell tower 50m high. Scicli was one of the centers of the Sicilian Baroque,
decorated balconies and arches mark it at every turn. The Beneventano Palace and the
Church of San Bartolomeo are the best examples of this.

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 CONCLUSION
After presenting the facts that affect the tourism of Sicily, we can conclude that Sicily is a
region with very developed tourism, visited throughout the year due to its rich natural and
cultural attractions. Mount Etna and Stromboli, the Aeolian Islands as well as other parks
and nature reserves, the remains of Greek, Roman, Normandy, Catalan, Arab and other
cultures that changed during the rule of the island, well-preserved architectural heritage,
museums and galleries that preserve masterpieces of world art, all these are reasons to
visit Sicily in addition to offering Mediterranean tourism, thanks to the mild climate,
clean sea and beautiful beaches.
Many areas of the island are also under UNESCO protection. They can be divided into
naturally protected areas such as Mount Etna and the Aeolian Islands and cultural and
historical heritage. The historical core of the Baroque city of Syracuse and the Pantalica
necropolis, the valley of the temples in Agrigento, Villa Romana del Casale in Piazza
Armerina, the center of Palermo and the cathedrals of Cefalu and Monreale and the
baroque cities of the Val di Noto valley are protected from cultural and historical
monuments. Given the natural and cultural attractions, the specifics of different historical
influences, traditions and cultures that give importance to Sicily, many festivals and
nightlife, numerous bathing destinations, it can be said that Sicily offers something for
everyone with its diversity.

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 LITERATURE
www.autostrade.it
www.catania-sicilia.it
www.culturasicilia.com
www.regione.sicilia.it
www.sicilytourist.com
www.unesco.org
www.visitsicily.info

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